Carina Schiestl-Swarovski visited our partner Conservation International together with Andreas Treppo (Swarovski Optik´s Head of Sustainability) and Dale Forbes (Head of Business Development) to learn about the mangrove nursery and reforestation projects on Chira Island.

The restoration project supported by the Swarovski Foundation, aims to assist Costa Rica's actions to achieve its decarbonization plan goals by restoring and protecting mangroves in service of climate change mitigation and the wellbeing of people, primarily women. This includes the establishment of female-led mangrove nurseries, replanting in degraded areas and training on mangrove restoration, and identification of alternative livelihoods opportunities linked to mangrove conservation.

Carina, Andreas, and Dale visited Conservation International’s oyster and farming projects and met some of the local project managers to learn more about their experience firsthand.

THE RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE GULF OF NICOYA

The Gulf of Nicoya is the most important and productive estuary in Costa Rica, and one of the largest estuaries in Central America. For more than a century, fisheries in the Gulf have been the main source of food and income for communities along the coast. The 75,000-hectare Gulf of Nicoya is lined by over 20,000 hectares of mangroves, which play a key role in the Gulf’s ecosystems, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity.

The project supported by the Swarovski Foundation prioritizes work with local women groups on the Gulf of Nicoya, including a group of women from the community of Montero, in Chira island. Working with and empowering women in mangrove conservation work that relates to their day-to-day reality and livelihoods is a powerful vehicle to approach and have a positive influence over entire communities.

ABOUT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

For over 30 years, Conservation International has been using science and policy to protect nature, working to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity. Since their inception, they have helped to protect more than 6 million square kilometers of land and sea across more than 70 countries. Currently with offices in 29 countries and 2,000 partners worldwide.

Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, Conservation International empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the wellbeing of humanity. Their vision is to imagine a healthy, prosperous world in which societies are forever committed to caring for and valuing nature, for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth.